A Look At The Millennial Generation’s Hook-up Culture
Start writing a post
Relationships

A Look At The Millennial Generation’s Hook-up Culture

“It’s easy to take off your clothes and have sex. People do it all the time. But opening up your soul to someone, letting them into your spirit, thoughts, fears, future, hopes, dreams… that is being naked.” --Rob Bell

353
A Look At The Millennial Generation’s Hook-up Culture
Slate

She asks the long-dreaded question: “So what are we?” You panic a little. Are you together? Exclusive? Having casual sex? You are not quite sure.

Our generation has developed a “hook-up culture” that makes sex more casual, taking the effort and commitment out of this once very intimate activity. In fact, just hooking up is so easy: It doesn’t require communication (with the ambiguous label of “just hooking up,” there is no need to fully DTR) or the emotional commitment that a relationship requires.

Just hooking up provides us with a temporary satisfaction, as we feel wanted just for the night. This culture is similar to our obsession with technology and social media. We post pictures on our social media accounts for “likes” and comments, for the temporary attention and feeling of attractiveness. Hooking up doesn’t require us to develop any sort of interpersonal relationship, something that seems to be lacking since text messages have become our main medium of communication.

But in fact, we are so afraid of commitment, we would rather have uncertainty. The nonchalant attitude associated with just hooking up prevents us from seeming too eager or from facing rejection. We would rather live in the gray area of not knowing if we are together or broken up.

It also seems that this culture has promoted the concept of apathy, the race to see who can care less. We don’t want to look like we are trying too hard or to crack and show that we might have actually “caught the feels.”

Although it may seem that men are the main proponents of this culture, it seems that this culture also resonates well among women attending elite universities. The 2013 New York Times article titled “Sex on Campus: She Can Play That Game, Too” describes these driven young women as having high aspirations, and attending college with the goal to build their resume, not to find a boyfriend.

Time Magazine labels our generation as the “Me Me Me Generation” referring to us as narcissistic. We are all so focused on ourselves that we couldn’t possibly take the time and energy to genuinely care about and deeply connect with another person.

But what happened to actually taking time to get to know the person on an intimate level -- not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally? How has Netflix replaced going on a date as a prerequisite to sex?

The hook-up culture has led to a decline not only in serious relationship but also in young married couples. A Gallup Poll published in June of 2015 showed that the number of U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 29 who are married has declined from 29 percent to 16 percent in the last ten years.

Surely, we all need to take time to ourselves to figure out our lives and to build a perfect career, but we often overlook how hard it might be to find the perfect person. At the end of the day, what are all the riches and material possessions worth if we have no one to share them with?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

59025
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

38114
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959605
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

196353
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments